The permit drawings for this project were based on the data from Kadaster. After the demolition of the existing buildings, the first step was the execution of a 3D laser scan. Based on the pointcloud an ifc model has been created with the most important parts of the adjacent buildings. With this, the first challenge , how does the new building fit between the existing building, was child’s play. Based on the ifc model, the entire new building was modeled.

Based on the true model, the constructor W2N engineers adapted their calculations and structural drawings. Then the construction could start. The 1st phase of the construction involved the sinking caisson of MultiBouwSystemen. Thanks to the exact measurements of the existing buildings, the new basement walls could be built tightly alongside the existing buildings. The basement including the temporary steel studs was fully 3D engineered. The outer shell of the basement wall is made of a prefab concrete shell. After the sinking of the caisson, the basement floor was poured and the second phase of the project could be started.

One of the bigger challenges in the project was the limited space. The new construction project is located in the middle of the busiest shopping street in Groningen. There was approximately 40m2 public space for the new building project, which was made available for loading / unloading of the construction parts. Partly because of this, the towercrane has been placed in the middle of the future elevator shaft.
The rest of the construction consists out of a steel construction, prefab concrete floors and a prefab timber frame construction outer shell. Because of this way of building, the entire structure of the store (cellar, ground floor and 1st floor) is built up in just 4 weeks.

The next phase are the 10 luxury apartments. The apartments are also completely constructed from prefab HSB walls. The walls are equipped with all the necessary recesses, electrical facilities etc. One of the other challenges in the project are the windows. The complex profiles in combination with the turn-tilt fittings made the windows extremely complicated. By using dwg-to-profile we have been able to design all of the windows in detail and make perfect connections.

The other parts such as inner frames, ornamental ironwork, restoration trims, stairs, roof terraces, balustrade / stairway fencing, glazing and façade cladding have all been detailed in the model for construction

Conclusion: Without the Tekla Structures software, the challenges of the project would have been many times bigger.